Detecting infection in reduced pressure wound treatment

Abstract

Provided is a method of detecting infection in a wound caused by an infecting organism at a wound site. Also provided is a system for detecting an infection in a wound at a wound site. Additionally, a porous pad comprising luciferase is provided.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for detecting an infection at a wound site, the system comprising:
 a source of reduced pressure; 
 a porous pad adapted to deliver the reduced pressure to the wound site; 
 a drape adapted to provide a substantially airtight cover over the porous pad and the wound site; 
 a conduit fluidly connecting the porous pad to the source of reduced pressure, wherein the conduit is configured to withdraw fluid from the wound site in response to the reduced pressure; and 
 a sensor adapted to identify a product of the infection or a component of an infecting organism in fluid withdrawn from the wound site; 
 whereby the presence of the product or the component indicates the presence of an infection in the wound. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a photodetector and the porous pad further comprises luciferase and luciferin. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the luciferase is covalently bound to the porous pad. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a compartment for placing a substrate comprising bound antibodies, the compartment adapted to allow fluid to flow onto the antibodies as fluid is drawn from the wound. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a  limulus  amebocyte lysate. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a microarray. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the microarray is in the reduced pressure source. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a computer capable of recording data from the sensor. 
     
     
       9. A porous pad adapted for distributing reduced pressure to a wound site, wherein the pad comprises luciferase. 
     
     
       10. The porous pad of  claim 9 , wherein the luciferase is covalently bound to the pad. 
     
     
       11. The porous pad of  claim 9 , further comprising luciferin.